B Virus: How It Works

In their natural host, macaque monkeys, B virus herpesviruses can target
the central nervous system and subsequently establish latent infections
without severely damaging the host. Generally, there is an initial acute
phase when the virus successfully replicates in peripheral tissue of the
host. This replication induces a series of specific immune functions that
can serve as markers of infection.

Although each herpesvirus coexists peacefully with macaques, the host:parasite
relationship may change dramatically if the virus infects organisms other
than its natural host. This change of hosts can potentially cause radically
more severe pathogenesis of the infection.